happy. |

10

You don't need a relationship to be happy, but if you're in one, you should be happy.

I've seen it too many times—a girl or guy thinks they're worthless or ugly because they're not with someone, and then they start hating themselves because they think they aren't good enough. And then they throw themselves at people and get hurt.

Here's the thing, though—you're probably young. You've got your whole life to find someone, so take time to focus on yourself, your schoolwork, and your future. Finding someone might seem like a huge deal right now, but it's really not. If you're in high school, don't worry about dating, because statistically, you and that person are probably not going to end up together anyway.

Here's some advice if you finally find someone, though:

Have you ever heard the phrase "date your best friend"? I'm telling you, it's solid advice. I don't mean your literal best friend, obviously, but really marriage is just approaching life with the buddy system. The person you're hooking up with right now might be really hot, but are they going to be there for you when you've had a bad day? Does the person you're with feel like your best friend?

I remember when I was seven, and I'd just gone to drop my best friend off at her house after a sleepover, and I realized that my mom had never had a sleepover at our house. And I asked her why, and she said that she was a little old for sleepovers. And I said, "Don't adults have best friends?"

She said, "Of course we do."

I replied, "Who's yours?"

And she said, without any trace of doubt, "Your father."

They've been married for almost twenty-five years, and they're still approaching life with the buddy system. Find someone who makes you happy, who feels like your best friend, and don't let that go.